⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit,^(A) looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(B) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open^(C) and the Son of Man^(D) standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city^(E) and began to stone him.^(F) Meanwhile, the witnesses^(G) laid their coats^(H) at the feet of a young man named Saul.^(I)

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(J) 60} Then he fell on his knees^(K) and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”^(L) When he had said this, he fell asleep.^(M)

Psalm 31^[a](A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(A) so that by it you may grow up^(B) in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.^(C)

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone^(D)—rejected by humans but chosen by God^(E) and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built^(F) into a spiritual house^[a](G) to be a holy priesthood,^(H) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(I) 6} For in Scripture it says:

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(L)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(P)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(Q) a royal priesthood,^(R) a holy nation,^(S) God’s special possession,^(T) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^{(U) 10} Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;^(V) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.^(A) You believe^(B) in God^[a];^(C) believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there^(D) to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back^(E) and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.^{(F) 4} You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

⁵ Thomas^(G) said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am^(H) the way^(I) and the truth^(J) and the life.^(K) No one comes to the Father except through me.^{(L) 7} If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well.^(M) From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip^(N) said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.^(O) How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?^(P) The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.^(Q) Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.^{(R) 12} Very truly I tell you, whoever believes^(S) in me will do the works I have been doing,^(T) and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask^(U) in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.